Repetitive, low-dose tissue plasminogen activator for clearance of experimental vitreous hemorrhage.

PURPOSE

To investigate the effectiveness of repetitive, low-dose tPA for clearance of experimental vitreous hemorrhage.

METHODS

The model vitreous hemorrhage was produced by intravitreal injection of 0.05ml of autologous citrated whole blood in 14 rabbits (28 eyes). One week after the creation of vitreous hemorrhage, the eyes were randomly separated into 3 groups. Groups 1 and 2 received two injections of 5 or 25 micrograms of tPA, respectively, with one injection in a 7-day interval. Group 3 received two injections of PS in the same way.

RESULTS

The clearance of vitreous hemorrhage in tPA-treated groups was significantly faster than that in the control group (P < 0.05, or P < 0.01). However, there was no statistically significant difference between the two tPA-treated groups. Not any retinal toxicity was detected by ERG, light microscopy, and transmission electron microscopy examinations.

CONCLUSIONS

Repetitive injections of low-dose tPA were effective in the treatment of experimental vitreous hemorrhage. Whether it is effective on the clearance of vitreous hemorrhage in human eyes needs further investigation.